Summary
Negotiations on the next COVID-19 relief package are underway between senior White House officials and a bipartisan group of centrist senators and elsewhere in Congress. Several members of that group and others on Capitol Hill are challenging the $1.9 trillion price tag of President Joe Biden’s legislative proposal, American Rescue Plan, and some of its economic measures, such as the $1,400 stimulus checks and $15 minimum wage requirement. However, lawmakers generally agreed that additional federal funding is needed to support vaccine distribution, as well as testing and contact tracing, which will be necessary for Biden to fully implement his COVID-19 strategy.
Members of the bipartisan group are Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Mark Warner (D-VA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME), Maggie Hassen (D-NH), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Susan Collins (R-ME), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Rob Portman (R-OH), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV), and Todd Young (R-IN).
During the talks, the bipartisan group proposed Congress pursue vaccine targeted legislation first, followed by a more comprehensive relief package. While White House negotiators have not signaled support for this strategy, the Administration’s goal of 100 million shots administered in the next 100 days will likely put pressure on the White House to cut a deal sooner rather than later on vaccination funding. The additional time to negotiate a broader bill, and potential turbulence or obstacles raised in the bipartisan negotiations, may spur Democrats to pursue the budget reconciliation process as a means of delivering on the more robust, partisan measures. This bipartisan, two-step strategy could align with the timing of former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, which is set to begin on February 9 – i.e., provide vaccine aid before the trial and additional COVID-19 relief after the trial.
The two-week period preceding the trial also gives the Senate an opportunity to consider, and likely confirm, Biden’s Cabinet nominees. Today, the Senate will vote on the confirmation of Janet Yellen, former Chair of the Federal Reserve, to be Secretary of Treasury. As for the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions have not yet announced confirmation hearings for Biden’s nominee, Xavier Becerra, Attorney General of California. Becerra is expected to be confirmed but likely not until February.
This afternoon, Biden is scheduled to sign an Executive Order (EO) aimed at strengthening the federal government’s “Buy American” rules. The EO will direct agencies to close loopholes in federal purchasing, appoint a new Director of Made-in-America at the Office of Management and Budget, increase oversight of waivers to Buy American requirements, and promote domestic manufacturing. Throughout the week, President Biden is expected to issue another slew of executive actions focused on advancing equity, expanding access to health care, reforming the criminal justice system, addressing the climate crisis, and overhauling the immigration system.
Later this week (January 28 and 29), the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) will convene to vote on recommendations for the March Report to Congress regarding postpartum coverage, estate recovery, and automatic countercyclical financing adjustments. MACPAC will also review several issues in the mental and behavioral health arena – including parity in Medicaid and housing supports. Commissioners will discuss a number of coverage and payment-related issues involving dually eligible beneficiaries, and high-cost specialty drugs, maternity services as well. In addition, they will hear from panels on the state budget outlook and implications for Medicaid, as well as on the role of Medicaid for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.